tonight. the woman believed to be president obama's first choice for secretary of state says no thanks. u.n. ambassador susan rice. she's the one caught up in the controversy over her statements following the murder of four americans in libya. she's the one, you'll recall, the president stood up using some pretty blunt language, saying that anyone who's got a problem with her has a problem with him. instead, there won't be a confrontation because late today, ambassador rice took herself out of contention, writing the president she's honored to be considered for the office, writing "i am fully confident that i could serve our country ably and effectively in that role. however, if nominated, i am now convinced that the confirmation process would be lengthy, disruptive and costly. that trade-off is simply not worth it for our country." >> i made the decision that it was the best thing for our country, for the american people that i not continue to be considered by the president for nomination as secretary of state, because i didn't want to see a confirmation process that was very prolonged,